photo: @ Moncton Wildcats
Gardiner MacDougall is a winner, but he’s also one of the most transformative figures in Canadian hockey.
Born in Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, MacDougall’s journey from a physical education teacher in Western Canada to the winningest coach in Canadian university hockey history is a testament to vision, grit, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference.
Over his 35-year coaching career, including 24 seasons with the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds, he has amassed more than 700 varsity wins, nine national championships, and a reputation for building not just teams, but cultures.
“I believe in a serving mentality,” MacDougall says. “It starts with the players. You try to make a positive, significant difference in their lives every single day.”
That philosophy has guided him through every level of hockey—from grassroots programs in Manitoba to international gold with Canada’s squad at the 2024 IIHF U18 Men’s Championship.
MacDougall’s coaching style is rooted in authenticity, positivity, and relentless improvement. Whether leading a university team or a national roster assembled days before a world championship, his mantra remains: “Win the day.”
Building a Culture of Belief
At UNB, MacDougall didn’t just win games—he built a dynasty.
Under his leadership, the Reds became the gold standard in U SPORTS hockey, capturing nine University Cup titles and setting records for consecutive wins and perfect seasons. In 2023–24, UNB went 43-0, sweeping the national tournament without allowing a single goal.
The foundation of that success was built on three words: Protect, Build, Believe.
“We protected what had already been done, built something special each year, and most importantly, got our players to believe,” MacDougall says. “You can’t protect or build if you don’t believe.”
Over the years, he’s coached many players who went on to successful careers in professional hockey and coaching, including Kyle Bailey, Hunter Tremblay, Rob Hennigar, Dustin Friesen, and Caleb Desnoyers. One story stands out.
“You’ve got a guy like Gene Chiarello, who survives brain cancer,” he says. “His third year at UNB was a miracle—he came back and played the next year for us. That’s pretty special.”
Friesen is another player MacDougall takes pride in. He captained the Reds to two national championships and later became MacDougall’s associate coach with the Moncton Wildcats.
“Last year, he was a big part of our success here, and now he’s the head coach of the Calgary Hitmen after just one year in major junior,” MacDougall says.
His pride in his players is unmistakable.
“I could just go on and on,” he says. “I’ve been really fortunate.”
The Memorial Cup Miracle
In 2022, MacDougall stepped in as interim head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs just weeks before the Memorial Cup. The team had been eliminated early in the QMJHL playoffs, and morale was low.
“It was one of those whirlwind moments,” he says. “We had to push hard, work fast, and find ways to get better every day.”
The Sea Dogs responded, winning the Memorial Cup in dramatic fashion—a storybook ending that underscored MacDougall’s ability to inspire belief and performance under pressure.
Fast forward to 2025, and MacDougall returned to the Memorial Cup. This time, it was with the Moncton Wildcats, where he worked alongside his son, Taylor, the team’s General Manager and Director of Operations. The Wildcats captured the QMJHL title with a 53-9-2 record and a 16-3 playoff run.
Though the Wildcats fell short in the semi-finals to the eventual CHL champions, the London Knights, MacDougall was named the 2025 CHL Coach of the Year, becoming just the third coach in league history to win the honour in his first year behind the bench.
“We got a lot out of our group, but as a coach, I always look at how I can get a little bit more,” he says. “My job is to instill belief at crucial moments. It’s gut-wrenching when you lose, but in retrospect, it was a tremendous year for the Wildcats.”
A Golden Season
If 2024 was a fairy tale, MacDougall was its author.
After leading the Reds to a perfect season, he took the reins of Canada’s squad at the 2024 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship in Finland.
“You’re going to a team you’ve never coached, don’t really know the players, and you’ve got to work fast,” he says. “But the players bought in early.”
Facing a U.S. team that had trained together for two years, Canada staged a dramatic comeback to win gold with a 6-4 victory.
“Maybe you wouldn’t have believed after two periods that we were going to win, but we found ways to do something special,” he says.
The experience was one of the most meaningful of his career.
“Any time you get a chance to represent Canada, it’s one of the biggest ‘wow’ moments you’ll have,” he says. “Our duty is to represent our country to the highest level possible.”
A Driven Legend
Despite the accolades, MacDougall remains grounded. He finds joy in early morning practices, long bike rides, and time with his grandchildren.
His motivation? Making a difference.
“Our job is to make the year the best ever for our players,” he says. “If you bring love, passion, and enthusiasm, you’ll make a difference—and success will follow.”
He’s quick to credit others, including his coaching staff and mentors like Robert K. Irving, owner of the Moncton Wildcats, whose passion and generosity inspire him daily.
Looking Ahead
MacDougall’s journey is far from over. He’s set to join the coaching staff for Team Canada at the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“The World Juniors will be a fantastic experience,” he says. “We had a chance in July to meet our players and staff. I’m really looking forward to working with them and trying to make a difference for our country.”
He sees the opportunity not just as an honour, but as a moment to elevate Canadian hockey.
“It’s perfect timing to showcase our world juniors and do the absolute best we can,” he says.
In the meantime, his focus remains on the next practice, the next game, and the next opportunity to serve.
“I always say the most important championship is the next one.”
Advice for the Next Generation
MacDougall offers a simple but powerful message to aspiring coaches:
“If you have the vision of trying to make a difference with your players, your ascent will continue,” he says. “Be true to yourself. Bring love, passion, and enthusiasm. If you make a difference with people, you’ll have a successful year.”
Born in Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, MacDougall’s journey from a physical education teacher in Western Canada to the winningest coach in Canadian university hockey history is a testament to vision, grit, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference.
Over his 35-year coaching career, including 24 seasons with the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds, he has amassed more than 700 varsity wins, nine national championships, and a reputation for building not just teams, but cultures.
“I believe in a serving mentality,” MacDougall says. “It starts with the players. You try to make a positive, significant difference in their lives every single day.”
That philosophy has guided him through every level of hockey—from grassroots programs in Manitoba to international gold with Canada’s squad at the 2024 IIHF U18 Men’s Championship.
MacDougall’s coaching style is rooted in authenticity, positivity, and relentless improvement. Whether leading a university team or a national roster assembled days before a world championship, his mantra remains: “Win the day.”
Building a Culture of Belief
At UNB, MacDougall didn’t just win games—he built a dynasty.
Under his leadership, the Reds became the gold standard in U SPORTS hockey, capturing nine University Cup titles and setting records for consecutive wins and perfect seasons. In 2023–24, UNB went 43-0, sweeping the national tournament without allowing a single goal.
The foundation of that success was built on three words: Protect, Build, Believe.
“We protected what had already been done, built something special each year, and most importantly, got our players to believe,” MacDougall says. “You can’t protect or build if you don’t believe.”
Over the years, he’s coached many players who went on to successful careers in professional hockey and coaching, including Kyle Bailey, Hunter Tremblay, Rob Hennigar, Dustin Friesen, and Caleb Desnoyers. One story stands out.
“You’ve got a guy like Gene Chiarello, who survives brain cancer,” he says. “His third year at UNB was a miracle—he came back and played the next year for us. That’s pretty special.”
Friesen is another player MacDougall takes pride in. He captained the Reds to two national championships and later became MacDougall’s associate coach with the Moncton Wildcats.
“Last year, he was a big part of our success here, and now he’s the head coach of the Calgary Hitmen after just one year in major junior,” MacDougall says.
His pride in his players is unmistakable.
“I could just go on and on,” he says. “I’ve been really fortunate.”
The Memorial Cup Miracle
In 2022, MacDougall stepped in as interim head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs just weeks before the Memorial Cup. The team had been eliminated early in the QMJHL playoffs, and morale was low.
“It was one of those whirlwind moments,” he says. “We had to push hard, work fast, and find ways to get better every day.”
The Sea Dogs responded, winning the Memorial Cup in dramatic fashion—a storybook ending that underscored MacDougall’s ability to inspire belief and performance under pressure.
Fast forward to 2025, and MacDougall returned to the Memorial Cup. This time, it was with the Moncton Wildcats, where he worked alongside his son, Taylor, the team’s General Manager and Director of Operations. The Wildcats captured the QMJHL title with a 53-9-2 record and a 16-3 playoff run.
Though the Wildcats fell short in the semi-finals to the eventual CHL champions, the London Knights, MacDougall was named the 2025 CHL Coach of the Year, becoming just the third coach in league history to win the honour in his first year behind the bench.
“We got a lot out of our group, but as a coach, I always look at how I can get a little bit more,” he says. “My job is to instill belief at crucial moments. It’s gut-wrenching when you lose, but in retrospect, it was a tremendous year for the Wildcats.”
A Golden Season
If 2024 was a fairy tale, MacDougall was its author.
After leading the Reds to a perfect season, he took the reins of Canada’s squad at the 2024 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship in Finland.
“You’re going to a team you’ve never coached, don’t really know the players, and you’ve got to work fast,” he says. “But the players bought in early.”
Facing a U.S. team that had trained together for two years, Canada staged a dramatic comeback to win gold with a 6-4 victory.
“Maybe you wouldn’t have believed after two periods that we were going to win, but we found ways to do something special,” he says.
The experience was one of the most meaningful of his career.
“Any time you get a chance to represent Canada, it’s one of the biggest ‘wow’ moments you’ll have,” he says. “Our duty is to represent our country to the highest level possible.”
A Driven Legend
Despite the accolades, MacDougall remains grounded. He finds joy in early morning practices, long bike rides, and time with his grandchildren.
His motivation? Making a difference.
“Our job is to make the year the best ever for our players,” he says. “If you bring love, passion, and enthusiasm, you’ll make a difference—and success will follow.”
He’s quick to credit others, including his coaching staff and mentors like Robert K. Irving, owner of the Moncton Wildcats, whose passion and generosity inspire him daily.
Looking Ahead
MacDougall’s journey is far from over. He’s set to join the coaching staff for Team Canada at the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“The World Juniors will be a fantastic experience,” he says. “We had a chance in July to meet our players and staff. I’m really looking forward to working with them and trying to make a difference for our country.”
He sees the opportunity not just as an honour, but as a moment to elevate Canadian hockey.
“It’s perfect timing to showcase our world juniors and do the absolute best we can,” he says.
In the meantime, his focus remains on the next practice, the next game, and the next opportunity to serve.
“I always say the most important championship is the next one.”
Advice for the Next Generation
MacDougall offers a simple but powerful message to aspiring coaches:
“If you have the vision of trying to make a difference with your players, your ascent will continue,” he says. “Be true to yourself. Bring love, passion, and enthusiasm. If you make a difference with people, you’ll have a successful year.”